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Scoop the borax into a glass jar. Borax is not toxic; however, if you are concerned about it, you can substitute an enzyme cleaner that does not contain borax.

Add 1 cup of washing soda

This is a detergent booster that is similar to baking soda, but it is not edible.

Add 1/2 cup of citric acid

Double the amount if you have hard water. This is an important ingredient for eliminating residue from dishes. The powdered detergent tends to clump because of the citric acid, so you can add a teaspoon of rice to the mixture to absorb moisture, and stir the powder daily to break up clumps. Another alternative is to add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of citric acid to each load instead of mixing it in with the detergent.

Add 1/2 cup of kosher salt

This ingredient helps with scrubbing action.

Add essential oils

This is an optional step, but if you'd like to add a fragrance to your detergent, add a few drops of your favorite essential oils.

Shake to mix the ingredients

Put the lid on the jar and shake until all of the ingredients are well mixed.